After reading today’s chapter I couldn’t help but notice some wise, yet unexpected marketing advice…

READ MATTHEW 7 Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Doing a simple google search on “Marketing Strategies” brings up 70.2 million results. Besides Wikipedia, among the top results at that time were Forbes 10 Digital Marketing Trends In 2015 That Will Boost Your Strategy; and the Ultimate Marketing Machine.

For a carpenter with three years of popularity in the backwater of an insignificant province overrun by foreigners, Jesus’ marketing strategy, in today’s chapter, must have been out of this world! The “buy in” went positively viral two millenniums before hot new marketing techniques, ultimate marketing machines, or digital trends were around to help boost His strategy. But one small comment lies sandwiched in so much…

Marketing a Product That’s Not Wanted

Jesus said don’t share what’s important with people who aren’t interested, because it’ll certainly backfire on you. [v6] Currently, they’re just “trampling it underfoot”, which is bad enough. But when they “turn and tear you to pieces”, things start to get grim! If that happened, though, I wonder how many would alter the appearance of His offer, water down the strategy, or cash in their shares in God’s Kingdom all together!

May I come before You with thanksgiving and extol Your Name with music and song. For You, Lord, are the great God, the great King above all gods. [Psalm 95:2-3]

· Your Country: Military ministries

· Your concerns for today

You’ve promised to prepare a lavish banquet for all people on Your holy mountain, Lord God – a banquet of aged wine and choice pieces of meat. On Your mountain You’ll swallow up the covering that’s over all people – the shroud that’s over the nations. [Isaiah 25:6-7]

3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”

May my heart be wise, Father God, then Your heart will be glad indeed. Your inmost being will rejoice when my lips speak what’s right. [Proverbs 23:15-16]

4. Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but delivers us from evil.”

Help me to remember, Lord, that if anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength You provide, so that in all things You may be praised through Jesus Christ. To You be the glory and the power for ever and ever. [1 Peter 4:11]

“For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”

When Jesus was questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, He always spoke things that were previously written in God’s Word.[d] Following these memory verses from ten topics, will help you learn 52 verses from the bible in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Topic = Sharing the Creator God’s Good News

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” [2 Corinthians 5:20]